The Gulfstar 60 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Gulfstar 60

• Hull Type: Fin keel and skeg-hung rudder
• Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)
• Length Overall: 60'6" (18.4m)
• Waterline Length: 48'4" (14.7m)
• Beam: 16'0" (4.9m)
• Draft: 9'0" (2.7m)
• Rig Type: Cutter
• Displacement: 60,020lb (27,225kg)
• Designer: R. C. Lazzarra
• Builder: Gulfstar Yachts
• Year First Built: 1981
• Year Last Built: 1986
• Number Built: 15
• Owners Association: Gulfstar Owners Club

Published Design Ratios for the Gulfstar 60

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.5

• Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
• 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
• Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 28.3

• Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
• Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 237

• Under 100: Ultralight
• 100 to 200: Light
• 200 to 275: Moderate
• 275 to 350: Heavy
• Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 44.5

• Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
• 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
• 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
• 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
• Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.6

• Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
• Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Gulfstar 60

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.5 suggests that the Gulfstar 60 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 28.3 means that a sailboat like the Gulfstar 60 (which doesn't have its ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of a deep keel), is likely to benefit from being reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 237, tells us the Gulfstar 60 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 44.5 suggests that crew comfort of a Gulfstar 60 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a heavy bluewater cruising boat. Pitching and rolling will be well damped - your cup of coffee on the salon table stands a reasonable chance of staying there in most conditions.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.6 tells us that a Gulfstar 60 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.